Dubbed "the world's fastest road race," the Ulster GP has been a staple of the road racing scene since its inaugural event in 1922. However, the Dundrod-based event has been shrouded in uncertainty for the past two years due to financial difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic. Road racing is set to return to the calendar in 2022. After two years of battling COVID-19 restrictions, the North West 200 will return on May 8, 2022, and the Isle of Man TT will return on May 28, 2022, while the Ulster Grand Prix, held in Northern Ireland, remains in limbo.
Even before the pandemic wreaked havoc on road racing, the Ulster GP was struggling to pay its bills. As a result, the organization reached an agreement to repay its £300,000 debt to creditors in 2019. Unfortunately, this meant that the winning riders did not receive the prize money promised after the 2019 event.
To help the struggling organization get back on its feet, former North West 200 event director Mervyn Whyte teamed up with road racing legend Philip McCallen to form the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club. Thanks to the organization's efforts, the Ulster GP is expected to return to the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland for its 100th anniversary in 2022.
“We understand the unique appeal of the Ulster Grand Prix for riders and fans, and we are delighted to bring the race back to this famous track,” the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club said in a press release. “It has been a very uncertain time for the sport due to the coronavirus, and we can’t wait to hear the motorcycles roar again this summer.”
In 2019, Isle of Man TT winner Peter Hickman clocked an average speed of 219,5 km/h around the Dundrod circuit on his Smiths Racing BMW. This speed earned the Ulster Grand Prix the title of the world's fastest road race.
“For the fans and for the sport, it’s great because, along with the Isle of Man TT and the North West 200, it’s one of the iconic road races with its own special place on the calendar,” explained Ulster GP winner Lee Johnson. “One hundred years is a significant milestone for any major sporting event, and having the North West 200 back but not the Ulster would have felt a bit strange.”
However, due to past financial difficulties, riders, including Peter Hickman and Lee Johnson, are hesitant to commit at this time. Only time will tell if the top talents in road racing will return to the Ulster GP grid, but the new series will release further details in the near future.
“We are indebted to the volunteers for their collaboration and hard work in organizing this famous race and celebrating its centenary,” concluded the statement from the Revival Racing Motorcycle Club, which noted that details on the race week program will be announced soon.
